Immediately Follow

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/113016.cfm) reminds me that I should immediately follow God when he calls me. 

People react differently when being summoned. Whatever the situation is, wether it is a superior calling regarding work, or your parents telling you to do something, the reaction differs. Some would take their time and wait until the person is mad before heeding the call. Others wait two to three times of being called before following. While others follow and respond to at once. This is similar to how we react with our faith. And God reminds us to respond and follow immediately. 

As we celebrate the Feast of St Andrew, we see how he was. We should be inspired and encouraged with how he reacted when Jesus called him. They left whatever they were doing and immediately followed Jesus. No questions. No planning. They just left everything and followed him. They had faith in Him. And they held on to that faith. 

We should immediately respond and follow when God calls us. 

We should not ignore his call. We should not wait multiple times before we respond. We should immediately follow Him. We should respond to Him. We should learn how to trust in Him. Things may not be perfect. The situation may be ugly. We may still be doing and taking care of things. But we should be ready to follow Him. We should be ready to leave everything behind for him. 

May we be inspired by St Andrew and be ready and willing to immediately respond and follow God as he calls us. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I do not immediately follow you. Sorry for the times I prioritize doing my things over following you. Sorry for waiting until I have free time before I do things for you. Help me be like St Andrew. Help me have that faith in you that would be willing to drop everything for you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 30, 2016
Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle
Lectionary: 684

Reading 1 Rom 10:9-18

Brothers and sisters:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
The Scripture says,
No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
the same Lord is Lord of all,
enriching all who call upon him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can people preach unless they are sent?
As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
But not everyone has heeded the good news;
for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
Thus faith comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
But I ask, did they not hear?
Certainly they did; for

Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R. (10) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. (John 6:63) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Alleluia Mt 4:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come after me, says the Lord,
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.